The government has appointed a new adviser to lead a major overhaul of how the NHS responds to violence against women and girls (VAWG). This move comes amid escalating fears that ministers will fail to meet their flagship pledge of halving such violence within the next decade.
New Adviser to Steer NHS Overhaul
Labour MP Jess Asato has been drafted into the Department of Health and Social Care as a specialist VAWG adviser. Her immediate task is to spearhead a significant transformation of the health service's approach, focusing on cultural reform and ensuring women experiencing abuse are identified and supported much earlier.
Ms Asato's role will involve advising on several critical areas. These include the links between alcohol and VAWG, embedding support for victims within neighbourhood health services, and improving how local authorities commission VAWG services. A central part of her work will be integrating these services into new neighbourhood health centres, which aim to bring GPs, nurses, and pharmacists together under one roof.
Budget Branded a 'Profound Disappointment'
This appointment follows sharp criticism from leading charities. Just days before the announcement, Refuge described the Chancellor's recent Budget as a "profound disappointment" to survivors of abuse. Ellie Butt, the charity's Head of Policy and Public Affairs, stated the sector remains "in a worse position than ever," with some services being forced to close due to spending cuts.
Butt emphasised that while scrapping the two-child benefit cap was welcome, the government missed a critical opportunity. "The autumn Budget was a critical moment for the government to demonstrate its commitment to women and girls," she said. She highlighted a current estimated funding shortfall of £307 million for specialist domestic abuse services, despite abuse costing the economy £84 billion annually.
Mounting Pressure and Public Doubt
Concerns over the government's strategy are widespread. Dame Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, warned in September that tens of thousands of child victims are not receiving the support they need. She expressed being "largely unclear" on the government's plans and questioned where the momentum would come from to achieve the ten-year target.
Public confidence is also low. A new YouGov poll for Refuge found that only 16% of UK adults believe current government spending is sufficient to meet the goal of halving VAWG. Nearly half (49%) say investment is inadequate.
In her new role, Jess Asato, who has prior experience with charities Barnardo's and SafeLives, stated that VAWG is "not just a criminal justice issue, it's a public health emergency." She argued that strengthening healthcare systems to identify abuse early is a core part of the solution.
Labour's Jess Phillips welcomed the appointment, saying it promotes a "whole-society approach" and will help the NHS spot abuse sooner. The news precedes a major speech by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who will warn that abuse of women and girls is "crossing borders at unprecedented scale and speed" and announce a £4.85 million UK package to combat online abuse.
